I used to think I understood things. As my hair has grayed, I've grown less sure of myself.You couldn't tell me anything in high school — I knew it all. I had life figured out. Do you remember those days?This piece by Catez Stevens took me back to those days of youthful confidence and ... Continue reading
Rain
July 28, 2006 By
This morning the clouds are heavy, leaden, folded like a carelessly thrown linen tablecloth. The rain falls almost conversationally, as if pouring out a burst of words, pausing to listen, then pouring out another thought or two before pausing again. In the distance is the barely-audible rumbling of ... Continue reading
An Easter dialogue
April 13, 2006 By 2 Comments
I was late when I walked through the door. I spotted him after a quick scan of the little clutches of coffee drinkers, sitting alone at the back of the room. He'd seen me right away, of course, and lifted his head slightly in recognition.I purchased my drink and made my way to the table. He had ... Continue reading
Sara Groves: Add to the Beauty
October 11, 2005 By
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants and grows into a tree where birds can come and find shelter in its branches. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast used by a woman making bread. Even though ... Continue reading
Here I raise my Ebenezer
April 8, 2005 By 115 Comments
Samuel took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer—"the stone of help"—for he said, "Up to this point the Lord has helped us!" —1 Samuel 7:12, NLT Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by thy help I'm come; and I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely ... Continue reading
Thanksgiving and gratitude
November 25, 2004 By
It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" Taking a good look at them, he said, ... Continue reading
Grace is for life
July 4, 2004 By 6 Comments
One specific errant concept has done inestimable harm to the church and God's purposes with us—and that is the concept that has restricted the Christian idea of salvation to mere forgiveness of sins. Yet it is so much more. Salvation as conceived today is far removed from what it was in the ... Continue reading
Grace notes
July 19, 2003 By Leave a Comment
Gratitude... goes beyond the "mine" and "thine" and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that gratitude can also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of ... Continue reading
